Toilet



March 30, 1937. G. C, DUNCAN' JR v 2,075,030

TOILET original Filed 'March le, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30, 1937.

G. c. DuNcAN, .JR

TOILET Original Filed March 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LII Invena George arzczzlz, Jl:

i, shows a bowl,

Fatenied Mar. 3%, lfd?? PATENT OFFICE TQILE'E' George C. Duncan, Jr.,

Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Duncan No- Noise iv'aive t tion of California spplication Bowl Company, Inc., a corpora- March 16, 1934, Serial No. 715,830

Renewed July 13, 1936 16 Claims.

'features and advantages of my toilet construcj, tion will be made apparent.

rEhe preferred form oi my invention may be described, however, as comprising a toilet bowl oi a certain general configuration having a flushing jet in bottom and a series of water inlets in the rim, this toiiet bowl being in combination with a trap outlet or a given configuration bent to a relatively high curve and having a given isposition relative to depth of the bowl. As be made apparent in the following descriptbn, the successful operation of my invention depends upon certain relationships, wherein shape and proportion in the various elementsy are of i Jmost importance.

in accompanying drawings:

Fig. i is a medial longitudinal section of the toilet combination, the lower portion of the trap, however, being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, taken as indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fi is an enlarged fragment of Fig. l;

E" broken horizontal section 0f a g. 3 g. i is a part of t e invention, taken as indicated by the line al-fl oi Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken as indicated broken line Fig. l; and

"i" 6 is a horizontal section of a rear portion ne i--vention, taken as indicated by line 5-6 the erring more particularly generally designated by therewith, gener- The bowl .is egral therenurneral it, and a trap coupled ally designated by numeral ii.

supported by a continuous casing 1n wi* having a pedestal portion i the bowl the front, and a box portion it at the rear u.cclosing trap il, the box being provided with a suitable lid lil. Suitable .bo t holes i5 are provided as indicated in Fig. fi for assembling a seat (not shown the drawings) to the bowl in the usual manner.

The lines of bowl l0 are characterized by a flowing transition from the delineation of a relatively broad and elongated bowl portion proper, indicated by numeral I6, to the delineation of what may be called a well ll below the bowl, the lines flowing from the coniiguration of the well to a rearwardly disposed outlet i8, thereby dening an overhanging lip i9 above the well. The outletl of the bowl, as shown in my preerred form, extends back a substantial distance from the well, and by virtue of an upward sweep is, in eiiect, the beginning of the trap construction.

Trap Il has an inclined portion 20, followed by a declined portion 2|, and a floor-level portion 22 extending to sewer outlet 23. Preferably, portions and 2|, consttuting the trap proper, are made in one piece, and floor-level portion 22 is made in two sections: an outlet elbow 24 at sewer outlet 23 and a separate spacer section 25 to` connect declined portion 2l with the elbow.

It is contemplated that spacer sections will be made in various lengths, so that it will be necessary to manufacture and stock only one toilet to meet the requirements of various installations, instead of several toilets of different dimensions as heretofore required. By selecting the proper spacer section 25', the toilet may be connected to sewer outlets at various distances from room walls.

Trap portion 2li is assembled to the bowl outlet i8 in the usual manner, by means of bolts 26 interconnecting flange 21 o-n the trap section and complementary flange 23 on the bowl, there being, preferably, a relatively thick live rubber gasket 29 sealing the joint. Similar complementary flanges 30 and 3l are at the joint between declined trap portion 2l and spacer section 25; and cornplementary anges 32 and 33 are at the joint between spacer section 25 and elbow 2t. Elbow 24 has a horizontal annular flange 24a resting on the rim of sewer outlet 23, and a vertical annular flange 24o extending into the sewer outlet, such construction being usual.

Inclined portion 20 of the trap and declined portion 2l, the two constituting the trap proper, form a relatively high bend 34, the vertex 35 of the inner wall of which determines the normal water level of the bowl, indicated by line 36. Preferably, the bowl is so dimensioned that at this normal water level the quantity of water retained in the bowl and trap is approximately three quarts. Preferably, the trap is slightly enlarged in cross section at the apex of bend 34.

As bearing on the operation of the toilet, it is important to note that the conguration of declined portion 2| of the trap is broken, i. e., instead of dropping vertically throughout, the declined portion is curved or offset laterally. As bearing on the compactness of my construction,

5 an important consideration, it will be noted that inclined portion 20 of the trap leans towards one of the side walls 31 of the toilet casing, so that the declined portion 2| of the trap sweeping downward laterally may yet be kept within the relatively narrow confines of the box dened by side wall 31 and opposite side wall 38 of the casing.

By virtue of the construction shown, I have attained a compact enclosed toilet of'pleasing appearance. Since this toilet may be secured in place by bolts to a wall (neither being shown), the bolts extending through the back 48 of box |3, no installation bolts will be visible, and it will not be necessary to use any iioor bolts whatsoever.

While the principles of my invention are readily applied to a toilet supplied by any water system, it will be used most widely in combination with flush valves. Inasmuch as noiseless operation is a prime consideration and one of the most important features of my invention, I prefer to use in the combination a flush valve of the noiseless type described in my co-pending application entitled Flush` valves, iiled March 16th, 1934, and. serially numbered 715,829.

Water supplied by pipe 4| passes through the usual auxiliary valve 42 into flush valve 43, thence through a supply duct or pipe 44 assembled to the bowl in the usual manner by a spud arrangement conventionally shown in the drawings and generally indicated by numeral 45. Flush valve 43 is tripped in a manner known to the art, by means of a plunger 46a housed in cylinder 46 extending laterally from the valve through an opening in side wall 38 of the box, the plunger being operatively associated with a suitable handle 41 of the usual type protruding from the side of the toilet casing.

Water from supply duct 44 enters a small 45 chamber 48 in the bowl wall and divides into a minor stream upward through a rim-feed passage 49 and a major stream downward through ushing-jet passage to the bottom of well |1. I have found that when thetwo passages are 50 disposed as shown, a proper flushing action, as will be described, may be had by making passage 50 approximately twice the diameter of passage 49; for instance, one-inch diameter for passage 50, and one-half inch diameter for passage 49.

To prevent water from the bowl being drawn into pipe 4| in the event that a vacuum in pipe 4|, created by abnormal conditions, should open valve 43, I have provided a suitable air vent communicating with chamber 48 and supply duct 44. This may comprise a suitable glass tube 5| inserted through the wall of the bowl and having a downwardly disposed outer end restricted to form a valve seat for a glass ball 52.` It is apparent that in the normal position of the ball, with water pressure in chamber 48, the vent will be closed, but will immediately open to admit air if a vacuum is developed in chamber 48 and water duct 44. It is contemplated that this vent will be dimensioned to admit suflicient air to prevent water being drawn upwards into the ush valve.

Rim-feed passage 49 communicates with annular rim channel 53, from which water is directed against the inner wall of the bowl below through a plurality of suitable apertures 54.

It is apparent that water left in supply duct 44, chamber 48 and the upper end of passage 50, when valve 43 has just been closed, will drain into passage 50 to the normal water level. Whenever the flush valve is opened, air normally trapped within these drained spaces is expelled into the rim channel by the initial flow of water, causing, in the usual type of toilet, a hissing sound. I have found that this objectionable noise may be suppressed, if not entirely eliminated, by directing the stream through a body of water at the entrance to the rim channel,

The bowl may be designed to incorporate a trap to insure the presence of such a body of water in the path of the air stream. For instance, both rim supply passage 49 and rim apertures 54 may communicate with rim channel 53 at points above the bottom of the channel. As result of this construction, the rim channel will normally contain a body of water to a level determined by the position of the lowermost of these openings. Extending into this body of water is an overhanging baffle 55 depending from the upper wall 56 of rim channel 53. This baiile follows the configuration of the rim channel extending in opposite directions from rim-feed passage 49, merging at the ends into outer peripheral wall 51 of the rim channel, thereby sealing olf rim-feed passage 49 from apertures 54, and diverting air from the rim-feed passage into the entrapped water.

Flushing-jet passage 5D is built into the wall of the bowl and, therefore, follows a curved path, as indicated by Figs, l and 5. At the bottom of well l1 the passage turns to the rear, terminating in a jet opening or nozzle 58. This jet is directed into inclined section 20 of the trap, being disposed to sweep the lower internal wall thereof. Preferably, the clearance between the upper wall 59 of jet 58 and the aforementioned lip i9 of the bowl is at least as great as the minimum clearance throughout trap If passage 5U is one inch in diameter, as previously suggested, and water is supplied at the ranges of pressure ordinarily used in cities, I have found that a jet stream of the proper characteristics may be provided by reducing the jet nozzle to an opening approximately one-half inch square. The stream through such a jet must be powerful enough to sweep over inner vertex 35 of the trap with sufficient force to draw 01T the normal residual quantity of water in the bowl and strap substantially faster than that quantity can be replaced by ow from rim apertures 54. Itis desirable that the jet have suiicient force to cause water to be discharged with an intitial rush that will immediately produce a substantial drop of water level in the bowl.

Perferably, ilush valve 43 is adjusted to operate for an interval of seven to ten seconds, such adjustment being in contrast to the usual ilush valve adjustment of from fifteen to twenty-rive seconds. The operation of the toilet will be described as determined by a iiush valve adjusted to operate over an interval of eight seconds. In such case, the flush valve will require approximately a second and half to open, will remain full open approxi-- mately four and one-half seconds, and require two seconds to close, after which there may be a substantial dribble for an additional second.

The ow from jet nozzle 58 will correspond approximately to therow through the valve, lagging behind the valve approximately one-half second.

Flow from rim apertures 54 will also correspond roughly to the flow through valve 43, but will lag timing of the by as much as two seconds or more behind the valve. The relatively extensive lag in the action of the rim flow may be explained by the fact that back pressure must be developed 1n chamber d8 before water will be expelled through rim-feed passage Q9, and by the further fact that during the initial iiow of water into rim channel 53 the water level may rise to completely displace air normally found in the rim channel, this temporary excess of water providing flow through aperu tures 5 after the iiush valve is closed.

This substantial lag of the rim flow behind the cycle of flushing jet flow is desirable because it determines important characteristics of the action of my invention.

For the first second and half, or more, just before the rim flow starts, the stream from jet 58 alone affects the residual quantity of water in the bowl and trap, and, since the rim flow is not replenishing that quantity, the water level in the bowl drops rapidly during that second and half. As soon as the rim iiow reaches the bowl, however, the water therein is replenished in part, and the drop in level thereafter proceeds more slowly. At

: the end of approximately iive seconds from the time the jet flow starts, the water level will drop below lip I9 to permit any extremely light material, such as a match, to float unhindered into trap l I. This extremely low level is maintained under the conditions stated for only two or three seconds, because at this juncture the flush valve is closing and the force of water from jet 58 weakens until it permits a sudden reversal of iiow in inclined section 2l) of the trap. This reverse flow, added to the water of the waning jet stream and the volume of water from the lagging rim iiow is effective immediately to bring the water lever above lip i9 to seal off the trap. from the atmosphere. It will be appreciated that the extent, diameter and inclination of trap section 20 are important as bearing upon the sealing action here described.

Water continues to rise above lip I9 because of the lagging rim flow, the rim iiow ceasing when water reaches the normal level and begins to flow over vertex 35 in the trap. The total volume of water flowing through valve 43 for one complete flushing of the bowl, as described above, amounts to only two gallons, whereas three and one-half to iive gallons. passes through the flush valve of the usual toilet combination, and six to eight gallons is normally stored in tanks used with other types of toilets.

The action described above and the specified various steps are suggested, but these may be varied Within the scope of my invention. For instance, if the flush valve be adjusted for a relatively short operating period, the water level of the bowl will not fall below lip I9. If, on the other hand, the flush valve is kept open for a longer period than suggested, the interval during which the water level is maintained 1below lip i9 will be extended correspondingly.

It is important to note that the normal level is the maximum level of the water in the bowl. The water level, beginning at normal, simply drops first suddenly and then slowly therefrom and returns thereto at first rapidly and later more slowly, in the course of the iiushing of the toilet. Such action is inherent in the toilet combination, because the construction described provides the required lag in rim flow and further provides for a jet capable of drawing off water from the bowl at a rate exceeding the rim flow. In the usual toilet, the water level rises above the normal level additionally serving during the ushing action, a rise that tends to deposit material on the walls of the bowl. During the time interval between flushings, such deposits, being above the normal water level, are exposed to the drying action of the atmosphere. In my construction, on the other hand, any water level marks that may form will be continuously in the presence of water between flushings.

Other features of the flushing action are also conducive to a clean bowl surface. For instance, all lines of water flow are direct to the trap, largely because of the action and disposition of jet 58. As a result, the usual swirling action that tends to deposit material on the walls of the bowl is lacking. Furthermore, water in the bowl during the flushing operation is more active than in the case of the usual toilet. In the usual toilet, water is supplied to a bowl faster than it is carried away. and. therefore, backs up into the bowl to form a relatively large volume of water, the major portion of which is relatively ineffective at a given time.

It may be said that the marked efliciency of my toilet, notwithstanding economy in water consumption, may be attributed to this fact of exceedingly active water in the bowl. In other words, the toilet achieves its effectiveness by the concentrated action of a relatively small volume of water.

1 Another cause of the marked efficiency of this invention resides in the fact that the bends at the upper and lower ends of the down-take leg 2| cooperate to develop a swirling vortex in the upper end of the down-take leg in one direction there being a second swirling vortex in the lower end of the down-take leg which vortex turns in the opposite direction from the first named vortex.

Other contributing features in the efficiency of this invention reside in the means for dividing the water between the bowl rim and the Siphon jet so as to allow suicient water in the jet to add to the volume of water in the rising leg of the siphon tube and the breaking of the jet force by the abrupt bend in the rising leg thus venting sweeping the water over the dam, the bend of the small angle followed by an abrupt bend in another plane at the top of the siphon which construction causes a left hand vortex to be set up at that point which entrains the air occupying that part of the tube the abrupt bend to retard any sweeping action throughout the tube.

The effect of the above construction causes removal of water and solids from the bowl by a true siphoning action and the construction and arrangement of the various elements serving to insure an effective siphon by means of the vortices at top and bottom of the tube 2|, thus leaving the area of the tube uniformy throughout.

Flushing-jet passage 5!) may be referred to as one water inlet passage and a second water inlet passage may be said to comprise rim-feed passage 49, and rim channel'53. It is apparent that my invention includes so disposing and proportioning these passages as to obtain the required lag of rim flow with respect to jet iiow and the required residual quantity of water after the cessation of ow through the bend in the trap.

I have developed what may be termed a silent toilet, but, here again, the factors in the design that account for the noiseless feature have not been identified. Certain facts, believed to be pertinent, however, may be mentioned. In the first place, water in the rim acts as abarrier to elimi- Supp y This relationship between the jet and inclined portion 20 of the trap may not only be the secret of discharging water through such a relatively high trap, i. e., the explanation of why the shape, height and extent of trap portion Il. When the siphonic action breaks, sufcient water falls back to seal thebowl outlet immediately, as

f heretofore described'this sealing action being timely to prevent such a gurgle.

My invention is not that govern the form and ments. I reserve the right, therefore, to all modications of the invention that properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A toilet having, in combination: a bowl having a rearwardly disposed outlet; a casing integral with the bowl having a pedestal portion under and supporting the bowl and a box portion behind the bowl; a llush Valve in the box portion of the casing controlling water supply to the bowl; a sewer connection enclosed by said casing;

trap associated with said feed the ejection of air into the rim passage incidental to the opening of said valve.

3. A toilet` bowl having, in combination: a water supply duct; a valve controlling said duct; a plurality of rim jets; a rim passage to supply said jets; a normally drained rim-feed passage from said supply duct to the rim passage; and a water trap in said rim passage adjacent the rimforward to said sewer connection.

51"'Ihe combination with a toilet bowl having an outlet and by a portion extending downwardly towards the opposite side of the casing.

sewer connection.

8. The combination with a toilet bowl having an outlet and a flushing jet directed into said outfrom said 11p-leg and extending downward in a broken line to a point below said outlet.

9. The combination with a toilet bowl having 11. The combination with a toilet bowl having an outlet and a flushing jet directed into said outlet, of a trap construction comprising: an up-leg curving upward and backward from said outlet, said up-leg being inclined to one side of a vertical plane to the axis of said outlet; and a down-leg extending downward in a broken line to a point below said bowl outlet and to the opposite side of said vertical plane.

i2. A toilet designed to rest on a floor adjacent a wall, said toilet having, in combination: a bowl having a bottom outlet; a casing integral with and supporting the bowl, said casing extending from the bowl to the iloor and from the bowl towards said wall to provide an enclosed space extending from below the bowl to back of the bowl; a water pipe extending into said space to the bowl; a flush valve in the pipe housed in said space; a sewer connection in the oor in said space; and a trap having an up-leg extending upward into said space back of the toilet and a down-leg continuing therefrom to said sewer connection.

i3. A toilet having a bowl with a rearwardly disposed outlet and having a trap with a riser leg 'u connected with the bowl outlet, said riser leg having a bend near its upper end and having a return bend beyond the rst-named bend, and a down-take leg leading from the return bend, the plane of the return bend making an angle with the plane of the first bend, said bends cooperating to develop a swirling vortex in the upper end of the down-take leg in one direction, said downtake leg having a bend near the lower end thereof and having a duct for guiding the water in a direction making an angle with the plane of the last-named bend cooperating to develop a swirling vortex in the lower end of the down-take leg and turning in the opposite direction from the first-named Vortex.

14. A trap to be connected with a toilet, said trap having a riser leg to be connected to the bowl or outlet of the toilet, said riser leg having a return bend at its upper end, a down-take leg leading from the return bend, the interior of the trap at the return bend having a configuration operating to develop a swirling vortex in water passing down through the upper end of the downtake leg, the interior of the trap at the lower end of the down-take leg having a coniiguration operating to develop a swirling vortex in the water at the lower end of the down-take leg and turning in an opposite direction to the first-named swirling vortex.

15. A trap to be connected with a toilet bowl, said trap having a riser leg to connect with the bowl outlet, a return bend at the upper end of the riser leg, a down-take leg leading down from the return bend, the Walls of Said riser leg and said return bend having a coniiguration operating to develop a swirling vortex in the upper end and a swirling vortex in the lower end of the down-take leg.

16. A toilet having a disposed outlet and having a trap with a riser leg connected with the bowl outlet, the upper end of said riser leg having a return bend, said trap having a down-take leg leading down from the return bend, said down-take leg Vleading down from the return bend, said return bend, downtake leg and riser leg cooperating to develop a swirling vortex in the upper end of the downtake leg, said down-take leg having a bend near its lower end and having a duct beyond the lastnamed bend for guiding the water in a direction making an angle with the plane of the last-named bend, said last-named bend and duct cooperating .to develop a swirling vortex in the lower end of the down-take leg.

GEORGE C. DUNCAN, J R.

bowl with a rearwardly 

